Does anyone else love the American surname type names?

[IcedCokeFloat]

I do but I feel so alone in this. I'm a big fan of names like Hunter, Hudson, Ryder, Wilder, Sullivan etc.

If you're a fan what are your favourites?

It's interesting that people pick these names as a way of avoiding popular names. As far as my youngest's classmates are concerned, the surname type names are more common that the grandparent type names. It is a trend same as any other and as a pp said, they will possibly date your naming choices to this era. I wonder what's next? Resurgence of Brenda and Derek perhaps? Linda? Janice? Good solid 50s type names. I hope so. I met a baby Brian once and it was strangely cool.

@GreenWhiteViolet

I don't like most of them, especially the ones ending in -son, because I can't help but read Jackson as 'Jack's son' and so on.

I think the Victorian usage is giving a child their mother's maiden name or another ancestral surname as a first name. Which resulted in some odd-sounding names!

Yes, same. I’m always interested in people’s surnames as they often/usually have a lot of meaning and history behind them. I don’t feel strongly about surnames as first names, I don’t really get it unless it’s reflecting family history.

My personal taste is more traditional, or old person chic. Which I know some people loathe & I'd agree has gone too far with all the cockney cuteness.

I think stronger names not ending in ie or a will now grow in popularity.

I do like some surnames for girls: eg Piper &
Harper. They feel quite cool for girls who are more usually getting very cutesy names at the moment.

You’re not alone in liking Wilde(r), an unfortunate child in the Times birth announcements today was Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Lastname. I’m guessing he will go by Alex…

@canarycages

DS2 is Bellamy. I've always known it as a French boy's name (DS1 also has a French name). Apparently, it's also an American surname... no regrets, though. I love it just as much as I did when I first heard it years ago.

Bellamy is originally from Bel Ami but Bellamy isn't a french boy's name

Love them. One of my favourites is Hathaway for a girl, with a lovely story behind it.
Also love Carthy for a girl.
For a boy, Finnegan and Nietzsche.

@IShouldBeWriting

Love them. One of my favourites is Hathaway for a girl, with a lovely story behind it. Also love Carthy for a girl. For a boy, Finnegan and Nietzsche.

I have absolutely no idea if this post is sincere.

No not at all

I like surnames as boys names ( my sons called Marshall) but I definitely prefer a more feminine name for a girl .

Names like Ryan , Spencer and James are all surnames but don't seem to get the same kind of negativity

No I think they are awful!

Ryan and James were first names first. Spencer is an occupation surname

Some surnames like James, Allen, Duncan, Gordon, George, John and Oliver are fine.

Occupation surnames and -son or Mc names aren't great and I don't like the ones in the OP

Girls with surnames as first names tend to have names that fall out of fashion. Not many baby Lesley, Lindsay, Kelly, Tracy etc now

@ZoyaTheDestroyer yes I am sincere. I like names of all kinds. I don't understand why people dislike the names other people give their children. I find it easier to remember who is who when they have different names.

I had a soft spot for the name Spencer until Made in Chelsea came along.

[quote IShouldBeWriting]@ZoyaTheDestroyer yes I am sincere. I like names of all kinds. I don't understand why people dislike the names other people give their children. I find it easier to remember who is who when they have different names.[/quote]
I’m generally in agreement- it was Nietzsche that threw me

Yeah I'm Not a fan

It seems to me that the UK has very specific naming conventions that have clear “class” specific connotations that other countries just don’t have, because the Uk is obsessed with class.

Any deviation from the acceptable and anything vaguely “American” sounding is very no-no and therefore deemed “underclass”.

If you dare to use these naming conventions in the UK, you’re thought of as “try hard” (trying hard to be what exactly?), or, god forbid “low class”.

People don’t like other people that think outside the box, as is pretty obvious by the responses on the thread.

Our children weren’t named to make any kind of statement other than we liked the names. As did my parents when they named my brother Spencer in 1983.

I suppose I would somewhat get away with giving my kids these names when we visit the UK as despite being British my kids have American accents. 🙄🤷🏽‍♀️

I don't know why Nietzsche isn't more popular. It's easy to pronounce, and could spark great discussions on how far he influenced Nazi ideology, and whether his madness was schizophrenia, dementia or syphilis - Who wouldn't want that for their kid?

There are some really nice ones but I can see how some might be seen as a bit “TV”, pop-culture-y, and possibly (horrible snobbery warning) an attempt to be imaginative by someone who isn’t very imaginative.
And also bear in mind the poor kid having to spell their name down the phone in future, and also names that may have ambiguous or even negative connotations (Nietzsche!) or meanings (Maverick, imo you might as well call them Cowboy or Rascal).

@TatianaBis

I don't know why Nietzsche isn't more popular. It's easy to pronounce, and could spark great discussions on how far he influenced Nazi ideology, and whether his madness was schizophrenia, dementia or syphilis - Who wouldn't want that for their kid?

Nietzche will get misspelt

Schopenhauer might be easier to live with

God, the utter snobbery and classism on this thread is shining bright!! I have four children, one of whom is Cooper. He's over 16, so not a new-fangled trend, he's extremely polite and well behaved. I also have an "older person's name" for one of them, a biblical name and a slightly unusual name. We are originally from Scotland although have lived overseas for a decade. Both degree educated parents, nuclear family, without a stencilled phrase on a wall, nor a criminal conviction in sight.

Wonder what the wonderfully tasteful and upper class people on this thread who are so uneducated as to use the slur chavvy would class us as!?

I just think they either sound common or like firms of accountants/solicitors. But I love virtue names and other people hate those so…

People don’t like other people that think outside the box, as is pretty obvious by the responses on the thread.

Thinking outside the box by…calling your kid Harrison or Jackson? Yeah, woah, so unusual, no one has ever thought of doing that before.

Conversely, few Americans would dream of naming their children Imogen or Jemima. Alfie and George, never! Lots of names reach across cultures but some are very specific indeed. It took me years to like the names Beatrice and Florence, which in America are great-aunt names from the 30s.

@Strokethefurrywall

It seems to me that the UK has very specific naming conventions that have clear “class” specific connotations that other countries just don’t have, because the Uk is obsessed with class.

Any deviation from the acceptable and anything vaguely “American” sounding is very no-no and therefore deemed “underclass”.

If you dare to use these naming conventions in the UK, you’re thought of as “try hard” (trying hard to be what exactly?), or, god forbid “low class”.

People don’t like other people that think outside the box, as is pretty obvious by the responses on the thread.

Our children weren’t named to make any kind of statement other than we liked the names. As did my parents when they named my brother Spencer in 1983.

I suppose I would somewhat get away with giving my kids these names when we visit the UK as despite being British my kids have American accents. 🙄🤷🏽‍♀️

It’s not uniquely British. Ask an Australian what names they consider ‘bogan’, or an American what names are ‘trashy’.